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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/18/2011 - RESOLUTION 2011-094 DIRECTING CERTAIN ACTIONS BE TDATE: October 18, 2011 STAFF: John Stokes, Daylan Figgs Steve Catanach, Ginger Purvis AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL 21 SUBJECT Resolution 2011-094 Directing Certain Actions Be Taken to Improve Coordination and Consultation Between the City and Platte River Power Authority in Connection with the Dixon Creek Substation to Horseshoe Substation Transmission Line Project and for Future Projects. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Resolution directs the City Manager and City Attorney to take certain follow up actions in light of recent discussions and analysis related to the Platte River Power Authority Dixon Creek Substation to Horseshoe Substation Transmission Line Project. The City Council discussed this issue at its adjourned meeting on October 11, 2011, and the Resolution calls for follow up work to: (1) address impacts from the proposed Project; (2) develop a set of policies and procedures for planning and consultation related to future Platte River projects; and (3) improve the City’s level of involvement in future infrastructure and specific project planning by Platte River. The Resolution also directs the City Manager to provide a copy of the Resolution to Platte River and the other Platte River member cities. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION At its October 11, 2011 meeting Council directed City staff to develop a resolution expressing the intent of the City Council that the City Manager and City Attorney work closely with Platte River staff, and that the City’s representatives on the Platte River Board of Directors work closely with their counterparts on the Platte River Board, in order to establish procedures and policies that will improve the level of coordination and communication regarding Platte River infrastructure and project planning. This direction grew out of a review of a proposed transmission line that crosses Pineridge Natural Area. The review was conducted by a consulting firm (SAIC) on behalf of PRPA and the City. Based on that review, Council concluded that the proposed alternatives to the existing project were not worthy of support at this time. However, Council desires improved communication and influence with respect to PRPA project infrastructure planning and implementation and directed staff to create a resolution that specifically referenced a number of areas for improved communication and collaboration, including: 1. formal notice to the general public and property owners in the vicinity of the proposed project; 2. formal notice to City representatives, including the Mayor and City Manager; 3. written description and analysis of alternative means to accomplish the project, alternative routes, configurations and designs, and analysis of related impacts, costs and benefits; 4. detailed analysis of natural resource, aesthetic and other impacts and evaluation of means by which such impacts may be avoided, minimized, or offset; and 5. a process for soliciting and considering input by City boards and commissions and the City Council. Included in the Resolution is direction to staff to develop a written plan to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts associated with the Pineridge crossing. FINANCIAL / ECONOMIC IMPACTS Other than staff time to develop these initiatives, none. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The proposed efforts have the potential to lessen environmental impacts associated with PRPA infrastructure projects. October 18, 2011 -2- ITEM 21 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. RESOLUTION 2011-094 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS DIRECTING CERTAIN ACTIONS BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND PLATTE RIVER POWER AUTHORITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DIXON CREEK SUBSTATION TO HORSESHOE SUBSTATION TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT AND FOR FUTURE PROJECTS WHEREAS, Platte River Power Authority (“Platte River”) is in the process of developing new power transmission facilities as part of its Dixon Creek Substation to Horseshoe Substation Transmission Line Project, and has planned to proceed with the initial work required for Phase III (the “Project”) of that larger project, the purpose of which is to complete a redundant 230 kV transmission circuit to the City of Loveland and portions of Fort Collins; and WHEREAS, as part of the Project, Platte River has proposed to install new and upgraded transmission facilities in existing Western Area Power Administration (“WAPA”) rights-of-way across the City’s Pineridge Natural Area (“Pineridge” or the “Natural Area”); and WHEREAS, the City Council has expressed concerns about the Project and has expressed objections to the impacts the Project may have upon the Natural Area; and WHEREAS, in light of the concerns raised regarding the Project, the City and Platte River on August 26, 2011, entered into an Interim Agreement staying work on the Project in order to allow additional review and analysis of the Project, possible transmission-related alternatives to the Project as originally planned by Platte River, and impacts, costs and benefits associated with such alternatives; and WHEREAS, the City and Platte River have worked cooperatively and shared the cost of evaluating the foregoing, and those efforts are outlined and described in a report entitled “Pineridge Transmission Alternatives Study, dated October 2011, by SAIC, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk and available for public inspection (the “Alternatives Report”), and which Alternatives Report is incorporated herein by this reference; and WHEREAS, the Alternatives Report and related analysis have identified no alternative to the Project that is clearly preferable to the Project in light of the overall impacts, costs and benefits; and WHEREAS, Platte River has expressed serious concerns regarding further delay of the Project in light of its desire to provide increased transmission capacity in certain areas of its transmission system; and WHEREAS, it is not the intent of the City Council to delay the Project if no constructive benefit can be accomplished as a result of such delay; and WHEREAS, Platte River staff has agreed to work closely with City staff to avoid and minimize impacts to the Natural Area and surrounding properties in connection with the Project; and WHEREAS, Platte River staff has further agreed to work closely with City staff to develop a plan and procedure for future consultation and review of Platte River projects on or impacting City property, subject to direction from the Board of Directors of Platte River; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Council that the City Manager and City Attorney work closely with Platte River staff, and that the City’s representatives on the Platte River Board of Directors work closely with their counterparts on the Platte River Board, in order to establish procedures and policies that will improve the level of coordination and communication regarding Platte River infrastructure and project planning. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Manager and City Attorney are directed to work with Platte River staff to negotiate and establish by written agreement a process for coordination of the means by which Platte River will avoid, minimize and offset damage to the Natural Area and the natural resources in the vicinity of the Natural Area in connection with the Project and to document that process in a written letter of understanding. Section 2. That the City Manager and City Attorney are directed to work with Platte River staff to develop and present for City Council and Platte River Board of Directors approval a consultation and review process to be used by Platte River in connection with Platte River projects on or impacting City property, to include provisions addressing the following items, together with such other provisions as may be determined to be appropriate: a. formal notice to the general public and property owners in the vicinity of the proposed project; b. formal notice to City representatives, including the Mayor and City Manager; c. written description and analysis of alternative means to accomplish the project, alternative routes, configurations and designs, and analysis of related impacts, costs and benefits; d. detailed analysis of natural resource, aesthetic and other impacts and evaluation of means by which such impacts may be avoided, minimized, or offset; and e. a process for soliciting and considering input by City boards and commissions and the City Council. Section 3. That the City Manager is directed to work with the City’s representatives on the Platte River Board of Directors and Platte River representatives in order to improve and expand upon the degree of consultation and coordination between Platte River and its member cities in connection with the ongoing and periodic development of plans for Platte River system infrastructure. -2- Section 4. That the City Manager is directed to provide a copy of this Resolution to Platte River and to each of the member cities of Platte River. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 18th day of October A.D. 2011. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk -3-